Joe Wright Takes on More UK Theater as Film Linc Plans Early Look at His 'Anna Karenina'

With his new adaptation of Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” hitting theaters in a few weeks, director Joe Wright has committed to diving further into the theater world. According to David Benedict in Variety, next summer Wright will direct Chiwetel Ejiofor in the world premiere of Aime Cesaire’s "A Season in the Congo” at the Young Vic.

With his new adaptation of Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” hitting theaters in a few weeks, director Joe Wright has committed to diving further into the theater world. According to David Benedict in Variety, next summer Wright will direct Chiwetel Ejiofor in the world premiere of Aime Cesaire’s "A Season in the Congo” at the Young Vic.

Just last month, Wright announced his intention to direct his theater debut, "Trelawny of the Wells," at the Donmar Warehouse in the early spring. Apparently bitten deep by the stage bug, Wright will soon after take on Cesaire’s historical drama about the Congo rebellion with Ejiofor, a bright newcomer to the London stage in 2000 who has since appeared in films such as “Children of Men” and “American Gangster.”

Meanwhile, Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced “An Evening With Joe Wright,” which will take place Nov. 1 and include a sneak screening of “Anna Karenina,” a screening of his 2007 drama “Atonement” and a Q&A with Wright and “Karenina” adapter Tom Stoppard. Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement” were nominated for a slew of Oscars, Globes and BAFTAs, and Stoppard won an original screenplay Oscar for co-writing “Shakespeare in Love,” so cinephiles who steal an early look at their lush new period film will have a lead on cocktail party chatter about a movie that is bound to be part of awards-season discussions.